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Black Jack Morris:
We are a mixed Welsh Border Morris side from the Vale Of
Evesham, which is right on the very edge of the cotswolds.
We dance every Saturday night from January to March at remote
village's in and around the Vale of Evesham.
The side was formed after some of our men who dance on the
Original Welsh Border Morris tour each year decided to start
a traditional Border side, keeping firmly to the original
traditions and aims of the old village sides of the Welsh
Borders, who collected the dances and tunes as performed
by farm laborer's, building workers, bargees, river workers
and all those who were forced to supplement their income
when laid of from work in the harsh weather.
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After studying what
has been collected about Border dancing we set about forming
a mixed side and as we are all from in and around the Vale
Of Evesham we felt it was right to take up the Border tradition
again and perform it as it would have been done in the past
Much has been written and documented about the origins of
the Border dances, so as a group of dancers forming Blackjack
we aimed to no only enjoy our dancing, but to also carry on
the true original dance traditions as we believed them to
have been.
Blackjack Morris started three years ago, the name derived
from a play called 'Happy Jack' which was performed by the
old Evesham Morris side, Bengeworth, around Christmas. |
What
do we look like?
Our kit is loosely based on the old Bengeworth side
who wore wall paper on their knees, with top hats
with pheasant feathers, knee length rag coats in various
colours, black shirts and trousers, heavy boots and
bells. We black up, the traditional disguise when
performing to raise money.
Blackjack try to create an exciting and eerie atmosphere
just as the original sides would have done long ago
on freezing winter nights. We thoroughly enjoy what
we do and have worked hard at achieving a good standard
of dancing with a strong visual impact.
Although Border is sometimes thought of as easier
than most other traditions, it is more energetic and
a great deal of strength and vigour is required to
give an impressive show. Blackjack have a good balance
of dancers, men and women with the enthusiasm it takes
to dance well and convey the true excitement of the
dances. |
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